The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Pertronix on a 54 Motor converted to 12V. any pros or cons

Thinking about switching over to a Pertonix-anybody out there got any pro or con opinions. They are 1/2 the price of converting over to HEI replacement distributors. Thanks in advance

I put pertronix in my mustang, it lasted about 10 minutes before it blew the back out of the module. I put one in my truck it ran for about 6 months, and that is the only time in 30 years my truck hasn't made it home. I asked if anyone else has had problems similar to mine on this forum. I got 10 replies, 4 were of the negative variety, similar to mine, 6 were positive. There was a similar response on a couple of other forums as well. It seems they are about 50/50 (10 plus my 2 bad experience, is 6 out of 12) I have the brand new replacement they sent me in the garage, but I can't bring myself to install it, the points will never be as much trouble as that one day in the rain and wind alongside the road putting the points back in.

chevyute,

Use the "Search" function on the top menu.

Search on/for: Pertronics

You'll see many people with no Pertronix problems (myself included - 6v and 12v units) and other people who have had problems (brokenhead included).

If you go Pertronix, use a coil that is recommended by Pertronix, run a ground wire from your distributor body to the head (probably does nothing, but . . .), and be careful to turn off the ignition when you stop the truck (or if the truck stalls).

There are 6v neg and 6v pos ground Pertronix units and 12v units for 216/235/261 engines.

Also, use a recommended set of ignition wires between distributor and coil/plugs.

Of the customers with pre-alternator cars that call us with "carburetor" issues, about 50 percent turn out to be pertronix.
ALL electronics love a stable voltage, more so than is
provided by a generator. If you do install one, I would highly suggest that you install an alternator at the same time. AND carry a set of points and condensor (or a cell phone!) in the glove box.

Jon.

Carbking (Jon) nailed this. with carry a set of points and condenser. It let me down too about 150 miles from home in an area not very well populated on a Sunday with three small kids coming back from a car show. Luckily the old general store I found had a set of points and condenser in their small store, the only set I might add and judging by the dust on the two little boxes, been sitting on the shelf since Christ was a child. If I go twelve volt you just can't beat a HEI.

When I travel more than 100 miles (my insurance policy free-tow distance), I carry a spare tested distributor (Pertronics or not).

You will need more than points and condenser. You will need the Bakelite insulator (and the special slotted screw driver to install it), the wire that goes to the coil, and a coil if the Pretronix failure was due to leaving the key on without the engine running.
Carl

I have had a pertronix on GMC 228 converted to 12v with alternator. It worked fine. I have one on a 59 ford tractor for at least 8-10 years now without an issue. At one time with another tractor restoration I had an issue with one and posted my problems on a website asking for input. I got an email from the owner asking me to call him. When I called I thought I would get some advice or problem solving. But instead he gave me an earful because it was bad advertisement on the internet for his business. I wasn't sure what to think of the company after that.

The HEI unit is so dependable that the advance weights will wear through the pivot pins before the electronics give up. I recommend looking under the cap every ten years or so. Buy a new HEI on ebay for forty bucks, get a hold down from Speedway for seven bucks (Part #91044030) and have a machine shop turn the factory hold down flange off, about twenty five bucks. For under a hundred you have a spot on dependable dizzy that you can buy parts for anywhere and with the plugs gapped at least 0.045 and up to 0.060 on old 6.5-1 compression engines it gives a fat hot spark that makes a lot of hard starting problems disappear.